Life in the US
The practical side of moving to the United States for residency, from your first week to your first tax return.
Settling in
Arriving in the US: Your First Two Weeks
A practical checklist for new IMG residents arriving in the US: documents to carry, what to do first, and how to plan for the gap before your first paycheck.
5 min readSocial Security Numbers and ITINs for New Residents
How J-1 and H-1B residents get a Social Security number, what to bring to the SSA office, and when an ITIN is the right number instead.
5 min readFinding Housing as an Incoming Resident
How to find, vet and pay for an apartment as a new IMG resident with no US credit history, including deposits, leases, scams and safer alternatives.
5 min readDriver's License and Car Basics
What new IMG residents should know about getting a US driver's license, REAL ID, car insurance and whether to buy a car, with state rules left to your DMV.
5 min readMoney
Banking and Building Credit From Zero
How a new IMG resident opens a US bank account, builds a credit history from nothing, and avoids the traps that follow having no credit score.
5 min readTaxes for J-1 and H-1B Residents
How US tax residency, Form 8843, Form 1040 versus 1040-NR and FICA work for J-1 and H-1B residents, with pointers to IRS sources. General information only.
5 min readResident Salary, Benefits and Hidden Costs
How resident pay, health insurance, parental leave and deductions work in US residency, and the costs IMGs commonly pay before the first paycheck.
5 min read